Deodorant stains on clothes (further clarified)

What's the best way to prevent or remove them? I usually wash all my white tops after one wearing, but that does not seem to be enough to prevent stains appearing and staying after some time.

I am particularly concerned for my white denim jacket. Still unworn, but I'm hesitant because of the issue.

How do you deal with the deodorant stains?

ETA: I figured out that my initial question was not very clear, so let me rephrase.

As I see it, deodorants leave two kinds of stains:

1 - on white clothes in particular: mixture of deodorant and sweat is what I initially had in mind when starting the thread. For me this is far worse than sweat alone and the main reason why I can never reuse white tops after one wearing without washing in between.

2 - on colored clothes: there is always clear marking where the deodorant basically rubbed into the clothes. Again, I wash almost everything after one wearing only even though the clothes may still smell fresh, but I don't like what the deodorant does to the fabric.

12 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

Are you sure that they are deodorant stains? I wonder if they are perspiration stains? I never had a problem with that when I lived in an arid warm area, but when I lived in Chicago for several years, yikes! I think a paste of oxyclean can help get them out, but I never had particularly good luck.

ETA: Wow, I never even knew that there were anti-yellowing deodorants. I guess there are some benefits to living in a city that only has a very rare hot and muggy week or two a year.

Anonymous

I spray the area with Oxyclean spray, let it sit about 30 minutes, and wash with a detergent for whites...Tide with Clorax usually.

ETA- you might try changing deodorant. Some seem to stain worse than others.

donnat

Oxy clean works on the yellowing. I am currently using a antiperspirant that says it prevents yellowing on whites and white stains on darkes. I think it's nivea brand.

Carla

We may need a new topic section on how to clean whites, if we all follow the white on white trend!

Detergent, hot water, Oxyclean, and for the dirtiest of whites, a Javex soak ( but it weakens material in the long run.)

Ornella

(website)

Ok, I've hopefully clarified my initial question, any more advice?

texstyle

I think I'd go for a deodorant not an antiperspirant. I don't know of any antiperspirants that don't have harmful chemicals that absorb into your skin. I use a Toms of Main deodorant product and never have yellowish stains on whites. A long time ago me and my DH both had the problem with the yellowish staining from antiperspirants. Hydrogen peroxide is great for getting out stains too if you can't find Oxy. I've soaked a white shirt in very diluted HP and water recently and got out stubborn red wine stains.

ironkurtin

I sweat, so I must have an antiperspirant. Lucky ladies who don't! Maybe this will work for you:
- CertainDri every few weeks - the roll-on liquid kind you wear overnight.
- Unscented gel antiperspirant every day.
- Spritz perfume, walk through.

For stains:
- Wet the area with Shout.
- Make a paste of tide with bleach and shout, and apply to yellowness.
- Let sit, then wash.

If you can see stains when the item is wet, don't dry it - retreat.

Hope this helps...

Astrid

As far as I know are those stains caused by the aluminium salts that are in most antiperspirants. Most of those also have other stuff in them that's not really healthy, so I'm only using deodorant. If you don't absolutely need an antiperspirant I'd switch to a deodorant. I'm using Sebamed Balsam Deo Parfümfrei Extra Sensitive that is perfume and alcohol free and doesn't have aluminium salts in it (http://www.sebamed.de/produkte.....wUid%5D=77). It works well for me! You can buy Sebamed at dm or other drugstores.

Thank you Astrid, you're a gem. I need to find replacements products of many of my old favorites and this helps a lot.

Gaylene

I switched to a crystal deodorant on when my sister told me about them when she was going through her treatment for breast cancer. It was the only type of deodorant that she was allowed to wear during the period she was undergoing her radiation treatments. I was amazed at how well the stuff works and loved that problems with white powdery transfer on my black outfits, as well as underarm staining on white tops, became a total non issue. I also find it a less expensive option than regular deodorant since a stick often lasts me for almost a year before it is worn down and needs to be replaced.

There are several different brands, but I don't see much difference between any of them. Another nice bonus is that the small travel size doesn't need to be included in my liquids and gels case when I go through security in the airports.

Irene

I also use an Aluminium chlorohydrate free deodorant (not antiperspirant) because of a tendency to folliculitis. I didn't know it prevented yellow stains as well!

I use a Spanish chemist's brand so I don't you think you can get mine in your country but I'm sure you'll fine many other affordable options. Mine is not even expensive, it's in the same price range as the drugstore deodorants and antiperspirants.

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